COSTA del Sol residents will notice more mass fumigations on the streets in the coming days after health authorities decided to extend the West Nile virus alert zone.
The regional government’s public health directorate widened the alert zone on Friday to cover the popular expat hotspots of Fuengirola and Las Lagunas, a large residential district of Mijas that sits inland of Fuengirola.
The alert was triggered by a positive test from a mosquito trap as part of the Junta’s region-wide surveillance network.
That means local authorities will step up testing of mosquitos, animals and people in the area, with widespread fumigation taking place in an effort to eradicate any trace of the disease.
Health chiefs have not recorded a single human case of West Nile fever in Malaga province this year, but the latest positive sample is likely to prompt fears of an outbreak.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), West Nile virus is a mosquito-borne disease that is commonly found across Africa, Europe, the Middle East, North America and parts of western Asia.
The virus is spread primarily through the bite of infected mosquitos, which became carriers after feeding on infected birds.
Birds are the virus’ natural reservoir, while humans are considered ‘dead-end’ hosts because they cannot pass the infection on.
The good news is that around 80 per cent of people infected never develop any symptoms.
Of the remaining cases, most experience a mild flu-like illness called West Nile fever, with symptoms including fever, headaches, body aches, fatigue, nausea and, in some cases, a skin rash or swollen glands.
Only a small proportion of infections become serious.
The WHO estimated that around one in every 150 infected people develops severe neurological complications such as meningitis or encephalitis, which can cause confusion, seizures, muscle weakness, paralysis or, in rare cases, death.
Older adults, particularly those over 50, and people with weakened immune systems are at the highest risk of developing severe illness.
Symptoms typically appear between three and 14 days after being bitten by an infected mosquito.
There is currently no vaccine available for humans.
Health authorities instead stress prevention, urging people to avoid mosquito bites by using insect repellent, wearing long sleeves and trousers, and removing standing water where mosquitos breed.
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